Building Assessment Certificates: Preparing for Regulator Assessment

If you manage a high-rise residential building in England, you’ve probably heard murmurs about Building Assessment Certificates (BAC). The BAC process forms part of the Building Safety Regulator’s wider programme for assessing Higher-Risk Buildings across England.

HRBs are residential buildings over 18m/7 storeys with 2+ units, overseen by a Principal Accountable Person. The regulator can require one as part of its formal assessment of your building’s safety management — and failure to engage can lead to enforcement action.

It’s not just another piece of red tape. It’s the government’s way of checking that your building’s safety management stands up to scrutiny. And unlike past policies, this one has legal weight, serious deadlines, and public expectations behind it.

Let’s break it down.

Why this matters right now

The Building Safety Act set a new bar. One that demands not just safe buildings but accountable management. And while the headlines focus on physical safety – cladding, fire doors, structural integrity – the BAC drills into your operational safety strategy.

In other words, it asks: are you keeping residents safe day-to-day, not just on paper?

That’s where your Resident Engagement Strategy comes in. If it's weak, unclear or missing—your whole BAC application is at risk.

So, what exactly is the Building Assessment Certificate?

It’s a formal confirmation from the Building Safety Regulator that your safety management meets the legal threshold. The Principal Accountable Person (PAP) is responsible for applying, and they must do it within 28 days of being asked. And remember: the 28-day window is for submission, not preparation.

If you're not prepared when that request comes in, you’re on the back foot. That could mean delays, legal risks or even enforcement action.

What you’ll need to apply

Applying for a BAC means submitting key documents that demonstrate how you're managing risk. These include:

• The Safety Case Report
  This is the crown jewel. It lays out how you’ve identified building risks and what you’ve done (and will do) to control them.
• Your Resident Engagement Strategy
  This proves you’re not managing risk in isolation. Residents must be informed, consulted and included – especially those most vulnerable.
• Evidence of your systems and structures
  This includes maintenance logs, digital records of inspections, resident communication audits, and escalation procedures.
• Details of who’s accountable
  You’ll need to name the PAP, provide contact points for other accountable persons, and evidence that your golden thread information is accurate and up to date.

How long does the process take?

You don’t apply voluntarily; you apply when the regulator calls it in. Once requested, you’ve got 28 days to apply. The inspection and review period varies depending on the quality of your application and the building’s risk profile.

But here’s the key point: if you wait until the request arrives to get your documents in order, you’ll already be too late.

What happens during inspection?

The Regulator may carry out:

• A desk-based assessment of your documents
• A site inspection to verify that your claims align with on-the-ground reality
• Resident interviews to validate your engagement strategy

It’s not just about having a binder of reports. They’re checking that what you claim works in practice — including how issues are identified, escalated and closed.

Why resident engagement can make or break your application

Engagement isn’t a tick-box exercise. The Regulator wants to see that you’ve proactively shared safety information, invited feedback, and adjusted your processes in response.

• Do residents know how to raise concerns?
• Have you communicated outcomes?
• Are vulnerable residents considered?
• Can you evidence two-way communication?

That’s what the regulator will actually test.

If residents aren’t aware of how to report risks, or don’t understand the safety measures in place, that reflects a gap in your management culture.

At Property Inspect, we’ve seen the difference digital-first inspection tools and transparent reporting make. When residents can see issues logged and resolved in real time, it builds trust. When building managers can pull a full audit trail in seconds, it speeds up compliance.

Prepare early, avoid the scramble

Prepare your BAC application. The smartest operators aren’t waiting to be asked. They’re treating BAC readiness as an ongoing part of their building safety culture.

That means:

• Updating your safety case report regularly
• Using structured tools to log, escalate and close issues
• Proactively sharing information with residents and keeping a record
• Making sure your engagement plan reflects the needs of vulnerable residents

The bottom line

A Building Assessment Certificate isn’t just a formality. It’s proof you take building safety – and resident communication – seriously.

Done well, your BAC submission becomes a strategic asset. It shows investors, insurers and residents that your building is safe, well-run and future-ready.

Need help with your resident engagement strategy or inspection workflows? If you’re building BAC readiness now, Property Inspect can help you evidence engagement, inspections, and audit trails without the last-minute scramble.